Increased fire danger for parts of the Toowoomba region

The Toowoomba Local Disaster Management Group is reminding residents across the region of an increased fire risk in coming days.

Toowoomba Region Mayor and Chair of the Local Disaster Management Group Geoff McDonald said Queensland Fire and Rescue was classifying some areas as having a high fire danger in coming days due to the above average temperatures and dry winds.

“There is still a large volume of dry fuel on the ground and a significant south-westerly wind change is forecast to hit our region from this afternoon.

“The BOM has forecast thunderstorms with a likelihood of dry lightning strikes which could start new fires.

“We expect high fire danger across most of the region this week, with isolated pockets of extreme fire danger possible around border regions on Thursday.

“While there’s no fire ban in place at this time, we encourage property owners to prepare now.

“If possible, avoid work that can trigger a blaze such as outdoor welding and grinding.

“QFES encourages people to use power tools and farm machinery with extreme care and ensure adequate equipment is available to extinguish any fire that may start.

“It's imperative residents stay up to date with the latest warnings and dial 000 to immediately report any unattended fires,” Mayor McDonald said.

Residents should continue to monitor the Toowoomba Region Disaster Dashboard at http://disaster.tr.qld.gov.au/

For current bushfires and warnings, visit https://www.qfes.qld.gov.au/Current-Incidents